Apparatus for removing shale, coal, and like from gravel



C. l. LEVEKE Dct. 1, 1940.

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SHALE, COAL, AND LIKE FROM GRAVEL Filed Nov. 12, 1938 INVENTOR. E- l. LEVEKE ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 1; 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SHALE, COAL, AND LIKE FROM GRAVEL Claims.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an apparatus that will deliver washed gravel substantially free from coal, shale and other undesirable matter, 7

A further object of this invention is to provide a device for removing shale, coal and like from gravel that is simple in construction and easily operated.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a machine for washing and removing shale, coal and like from gravel that is economical in manufacture, and durable in use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a side sectional view of my apparatus ready for use.

Fig. 2'is an enlarged cross sectional view of my apparatus taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and more fully illustrates its construction.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a portion of my apparatus taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Gravel is used for a variety of purposes and in many instances it is highly desirable and necessary that the gravel be free from soft material such as shale. coal and like. To remove such undesirable substances, I have provided a device that not only successfully removes such undesirable pieces of shale, coal and like, but delivers the gravel in a clean washed condition.

Referring to the drawings, I have used the numeral III to designate the supporting framework of my apparatus. This frame work It holds and supports the trough portion of my apparatus which I have designated by the numeral II. This trough extends forwardly and upwardly as shown in Fig. 1 and has its forward end and rear end closed. The numerals l2 and I3 designate two parallel shafts rotatably mounted longitudinally within the trough H as shown in Fig. 2. These two shafts l2 and i3 extend through the forward end of the trough II and are designed to have their forward ends operatively secured to any suitable prime mover for causing the shaft |2 to rotate to the left and the shaft l3 to rotate to the right at times. The numeral l4 designates an auger on the forward end portion of each of the shafts l2 and I3 as shown in Fig, l. The numeral l5 designates a plurality of propeller teeth bars on each of the shafts l2 and I3. These projecting lug bars l5 are spaced apart on the rear portions of the shafts l2 and I3 and are located just back of the augers Id. The forward ends of the augers l4 terminate adjacent the forward end of the trough II and the rearmost bars l5 are located near the inside rear end of the trough As the shaft l2 rotates to the left and the shaft |3 to the right, the bars IS on the shaft |2 are pitched diametrically opposite from the pitch of the bars IS on the shaft l3 in order that material will be forced forwardly and upwardly by these bars when the shafts are rotated. Obviously, these bars l5 extend radially from their shafts and are not only so pitched as to force the material in the trough forwardly and upwardly, but to strike and break up soft material such as coal and shale when the shafts are rotated. With the shaft l2 rotating to the left and the shaft l3 to the right, material will be forced not only forwardly and upwardly, but toward the center of the trough and directly upwardly in the trough. The bottom of the trough may have its bottom formed in two curved lines as shown in Fig. 2, in order to conform to and loosely surround the lower portions of the augers and breaking bars as shown in Fig. 2. The numerals I6 and I1 designate two side wall portions on the rear upper portion of the trough II which extend substantially above the upper plane of the trough II as shown in Fig. 2. The numeral l8 designates a cover over the rear upper end portion of the trough II. This cover portion |8 extends between the side board members Hi and I! and past the plane of the rear end portion of the trough II. The rear portions and portion I8 provide a downwardly and rearwardly inclined runway for the undesirable coal, shale and like. The numeral l9 designates a conduit extending through the upper central rear portion of the member l8 and communicates with the inside rear end portion of the trough The numeral 20 designates a material supply pipe designed to lead to a source of gravel and like supply and capable of feeding the grave] or like into the receiving conduit IS. The numeral 2| designates an opening in the member forward of the conduit Hi. If desired. this opening 2| may be created by having the member H3 in two pieces, i. e., forward section and rear section. The numeral 22 designates a scoop element having its rear end hingedly secured to the rear marginal edge of the opening 2|. This scoop element has two side portions 23 and 24 slidably adjacent the inner sides of the portions l6 and II. The numeral shown in Fig. l.

25 designates a curved slot opening in each of the side walls 23 and 24. The numeral 25 designates a wing bolt extending through each of the slots 25 and adjacent portion IE or as the case may be. By this arrangement of parts, the scoop element 22- may be adjusted forwardly or downwardly by the wing bolts 26 as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. If desired, the wing bolts 26 may be left in a loosened condition, and scoop element 22 permitted to freely move upwardly or downwardly on its hinged point. To fasten the member 22 against movement, it is merely necessary to tighten the wing bolts 26. The forward end of the scoop element 22 terminates a substantial distance from the forward marginal edge portion of the opening 2|. The numeral 21 designates a closing plate slidably adjustably mounted on the top of the forward end portion of the member l8. .By adjustably moving this plate 21 forwardly or rearwardly, the desired opening forward of the scoop element 22 may be had. The numeral 28 designates a partition in the lower rear end portion of the trough II. This partition is located below the opening 2| forward of the scoop element 22 and with a few of the bar members I5 rotating forward of it as The numeral 28 designates a water supply pipe designed to be in communication with a suitable source of water supply and communicating with the inside portion of the trough II at points forward of thepartition 28 and at points in the rear of the partition 28. These points of communicating are directly below the shafts l2 and i3 respectively. The numeral 3|] designates a second water supply pipe communicating with the inside top portion of the trough forward of the member l8. The numeral 3| designates two washed gravel outlet pipes communicating with the inside bottom of the trough ll. These two pipes 3| exit from the trough II at points directly below the shafts l2 and I3 respectively, and at locations near the forward end of the trough The practical operation of my device is as follows: With the shafts I2 and I3 rotating as herebefore described, and with water flowing into the trough ll through the pipes 29 and 30, the gravel to be cleaned is injected into the receiving conduit l9. This gravel with its undesirable soft material such as coal and shale, will be attacked and agitated by the beating and breaking propeller bars l5. As gravel is very hard, this action of the bars I5 will not effect it except asto move it forwardly and upwardly in the trough to the auger conveyers l4. Soft material, however, such as coal, shale and like will be broken up by the action of the bars l5 and as other material such as sand or like, broken loose from the gravel. As this mass is operating under water, the agitation caused by the bars l5 will force the softer and lighter material such as coal, shale, dirt, sand and like forwardly and upwardly with the water exiting through the opening 2|. This undesirable material will, therefore, be encouraged to pass upwardly and outwardly with the flow of water by the action and agitation of the bars and by the direction of flow of the water through the pipe 29. The water and undesirable matter will pass through the opening 21 onto the scoop element 22 and thence downwardly and rearwardly by gravity over the rear portion of the member 8 and to the rear outside of the trough The washed gravel free from undesirable soft rock, coal and like, will be moved forwardly and upwardly by the auger conveyers H to the outer conduit pipe 2|. As this material moves forwardly, it will be additionally washed by water from the pipe 30, as this water from the pipe 30 will run backwardly and downwardly in the trough II, it will also aid in carrying undesirable dirt, sand, shale and like that might still be present in the gravel, backwardly in the trough II and out through the opening 2|. If the element 22 is not held in rigid position by the tightening of the wing bolts 26, the element 2| will ride on the material as it moves forwardly in the trough thereby being in a position at all times to receive the rearward flow of the water carrying the dirt, sand, shale, coal and like. The partition 28 will aid in guiding the water from the pipe 29 upwardly and out of the opening 2|, thereby carrying with it the undesirableforeign matter. It will also be noted that all of the shale, coal, gravel and foreign matter with the water will have to pass upwardly over the partition 28 which will not only cause the proper agitation of the mass, but will aid in bringing the foreign matter, coal, shale and like upwardly where it will flow with the water out through the opening 2|.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious that by the use of my apparatus, washed clean gravel substantially free of soft rock, coal and like, will exit from the outer gravel pipes 3|.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my improved apparatus for removing shale, coal and like from gravel without departing fromthe real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intentiont'o cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, an elongated trough member extending forwardly and upwardly, a shaft rotatably mounted in said trough member and extending longitudinally of the same, an outlet passageway in the forward end portion of said trough member, radially extending spaced apart breaker arms on the rear portion of said shaft, an auger secured to the forward portion of said shaft, a water supply pipe communicating with the inside bottom of said trough below said breaker arms, and a second water supply pipe terminating at the inside upper forward end portion of said trough member.

2. In a device of the class described, an elongated trough member extending forwardly and upwardly, a shaft rotatably mounted in said trough member and extending longitudinally of the same, an outlet passageway in the forward end portion of said trough member, radially extending spaced apart breaker arms on the rear portion of said shaft, an auger secured to the forward portion of said shaft, a water supply pipe communicating with the inside bottom of said trough below said breaker arms, and a spillway element on the upper rear top of said trough member.

3. In a device of the class described, an elongated trough member extending forwardly and upwardly, a shaft rotatably mounted in said trough member and extending longitudinally of the same, an outlet passageway in the forward end portion of said trough member, radially extending spaced apart breaker arms on the rear portion of said shaft, an auger secured to the forward portion of said shaft, a water supply pipe communicating with the inside bottom of said trough below said breaker arms, and a scoop member hingedly secured on the upper rear of said trough member capable of adjustment relative to the longitudinal axis of said trough memher.

4. In a deviceof the class described, an elongated trough member extending forwardly and upwardly, a shaft rotatably mounted in said trough member and extending longitudinally of the same, an outlet passageway in the forward end portion of said trough member, radially extending spaced apart breaker arms on the rear portion of said shaft, an auger secured to the forward portion of said shaft, a water supply pipe communicating with the inside bottom of said trough below said breaker arms, and a cover element having an opening on the rear upper portion of said trough member.

5. In a device of the class described, an elongated trough member extending forwardly and upwardly, a shaft rotatably mounted in said trough member and extending longitudinally of the same, breaker arms on the rear portion of said shaft, an auger on the forward portion of said shaft, a partition wall in the bottom portion of said trough member and extending transversely of the length of said trough member, and a water supply pipe communicating with the inside bottom of said trough member at two points; said two points being located at each side of said partition wall respectively.

CHESTER 1. LEVEKE. 

